Jan 27, 2024, 4:51 pm
The way of the Dodo? - 1K upgrades, PP or CPU
Aug 4, 2023, 9:04 pm
#1021
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,515
Was a little annoyed this morning that not a single person sitting upfront on my IAD-STT was either 1K or GS from what I gather. I died first on the list and F has been sold out for weeks. Everyone in F boarded in group 1 from my observation in the first row of Economy Plus, besides the two UA employees that were already onboard prior to pre-boarding. My return STT-IAD flight, there is one open seat upfront and I am first on the list, using PP. There are only four on the upgrade list. Upsell offer is a whopping $808.
A couple of months ago, while boarding DEN to EWR flight, mind you, well before 6am, the GA informed me I was the only 1K on the plane. I guess too early for most elites, but the point here is leisure pax occupying front of the plane are still going strong, and United (and other airlines) are enticing them with manageable buyup offers...full of once or twice a year flyers.
Aug 4, 2023, 9:44 pm
#1022
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: INN
Posts: 2,914
Had to book a last minute Europe to the US West Coast trip, and was surprised that for next Thursday both SFO-FRA flights were wide open with PZ=9 at that time. Maybe I'm just lucky..
Last edited by hch; Aug 5, 2023 at 2:14 am
Aug 5, 2023, 2:46 pm
#1023
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,025
HNL-LAX 8am 10Aug. 14 seats unclaimed up front on a 753 and PN3 PZ1 (no waitlist). Might actually get a CPU w/ my award ticket 
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Aug 5, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Sep 19, 2023, 7:00 am
#1024
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,506
PZ9 for at least the next several days (maybe longer) on SCL-IAH. Discovered by happenstance looking for a last-minute return later this week.
Sep 19, 2023, 1:53 pm
#1026
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mexico
Programs: AM Plat, UA Plat, AA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Amex Plat
Posts: 238
Miracles do happen! Just here to let you guys know I was upgraded on an SFO-MEX as a United Silver on a cheapo economy fare (not basic), at T-24 :O
It was Saturday 1:30pm. Flight load was of course very light. I sat on 1A and 1B was actually empty and no one else was on the upgrade list. Some supervisor thought it was a mistake and came with the gate agent to check the plane. They were in shock at an empty first class seat, as was I!
I never managed a CPU even as a Platinum for three years.
It was Saturday 1:30pm. Flight load was of course very light. I sat on 1A and 1B was actually empty and no one else was on the upgrade list. Some supervisor thought it was a mistake and came with the gate agent to check the plane. They were in shock at an empty first class seat, as was I!
I never managed a CPU even as a Platinum for three years.
Sep 24, 2023, 1:21 pm
#1027
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA PLT (MM), UA 1K, Marriott Ti, IHG Diamond
Posts: 929
Check this... T-40 hours or so to go till my IAD-SFO flight. Dreamliner 787 with 25 of 28 booked in Polaris. I'm 1K and using pluspoints and I'm #15 on waitlist!! What's the point....
On top of that, they just dropped the upgrade offer for me from ~$1,000 to $650. #1 on waitlist will not get upgraded, all 3 remaining seats will be bought before the flight boards. #dodo
On top of that, they just dropped the upgrade offer for me from ~$1,000 to $650. #1 on waitlist will not get upgraded, all 3 remaining seats will be bought before the flight boards. #dodo
Sep 24, 2023, 3:42 pm
#1028
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,515
Check this... T-40 hours or so to go till my IAD-SFO flight. Dreamliner 787 with 25 of 28 booked in Polaris. I'm 1K and using pluspoints and I'm #15 on waitlist!! What's the point....
On top of that, they just dropped the upgrade offer for me from ~$1,000 to $650. #1 on waitlist will not get upgraded, all 3 remaining seats will be bought before the flight boards. #dodo
On top of that, they just dropped the upgrade offer for me from ~$1,000 to $650. #1 on waitlist will not get upgraded, all 3 remaining seats will be bought before the flight boards. #dodo
Sep 24, 2023, 3:55 pm
#1029
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
These days I'm mostly flying UA only if I can book a cheap P fare well in advance. Closer in, the fares are outrageous and upgrades highly unlikely.
Sep 24, 2023, 4:36 pm
#1031
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: United 1K/*G, HHonors Platinum
Posts: 142
Another success story on using plus points on NH. Purchased on September 8 for early November outbound LAX-NRT, UA A fare, cleared today, September 24. Optimistic about the inbound also.
Sep 25, 2023, 1:21 am
#1032
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,523
Sep 25, 2023, 6:55 am
#1033
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA PLT (MM), UA 1K, Marriott Ti, IHG Diamond
Posts: 929
Unfortunately the red eye options flying to DC are narrowbody only these days...
Sep 25, 2023, 9:28 am
#1034
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: UA Gold Marriott Gold AA Gold Choice Gold Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT Avis President's Club Amtrak Select
Posts: 2,263
Just did IAD-SFO-IAD roundtrip on the 787-8 for each leg. I died at number 7 on the upgrade list, 1K using PP, on each flight. IAD-SFO outbound the upgrade list was at one point over 80. Both flights, only one or two on the list cleared. However, I was in 20A for each flight so it wasn't all too bad. Would rather have that seat than a narrowbody domestic F seat.
Last edited by Longboater; Sep 25, 2023 at 9:49 am
Sep 25, 2023, 9:43 am
#1035
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: ORD, MCO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 271
Same here, they're plentiful on DEN-ORD far enough in advance. I just flew ORD-SFO-ORD being 20th on the list outbound and 10th on the return (no PPs applied on cheap T/K fares so no surprise).